BitViper

I found this..
Eclipse CAB106 Side view camera power supply and switch For AVN model in-dash DVD receivers
Technical Details

• power source for Eclipse FEC106 side view camera
• facilitates switching between front view and rear view from the optional BEC106 camera

RichDash

I dont wanna be the guy to **** on your dreams but please consider these reasons not to mount an external front view cam...

Bugs - one splat and no view
Dust/Dirt - not only will the view go away fast but you will etch the lense faster then you would believe
Water - yes the units are made for exterior use but for tipical real viewing. With the front mount you will be driving water into the unit at a high rate of speed.

those are only some of the reasons not to use an externally mounted front cam. Just a few thigns to consider before ya dive into this project...

0TheRadioFlyer97

Good Point....however there is a solution for those of you that are determined:

Clear front filler plate (perhaps with the BPP style lights) mount the camera behind this plate. You could also paint all but a small area of the clear plate where you would mount the camera.

heavymetals

I am for it if only to stop hitting parking blocks

BitViper

The most cost effective answer is to use proximity detectors....the over all cost is the most limititing factor..its another 200+ bucks...

heavymetals

Just finished with the front camera install.

Now I have to wire it up.

Rear camera is already in and working.

Dash unit is an AVIC N4 with a bunch of bells and whistles..

One feature this camera has is a reverse image jumper, which came in handy.

Modding is fun..

0TheRadioFlyer97

please post a link to your write up in this thread. Looks good

heavymetals

Thanks!

Here is a link to the install:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...my-c5-z06.html

Mr Vette joined the 21st century..

wiz1500

So your going to hook your front cam. up to your vid.1 in and just switch it in the head unit for parking???right????

heavymetals

Initially yes.

Later I plan on adding a switcher that is trigged off the reverse signal that will automatically switch between front and rear camera when parallel parking.

heavymetals

Here are some pics/screen shots.

I had to Dremel a hole in the license plate cover as it just added to much glare and distortion to the picture.

The screen shots are the front looking at an air compressor on a rise.

The rise is about 18 inches from the front of the facia so the camera angle worked out.

I will take some better shots and also reference the distance from the facia.

Rear shot is the nav and camera screen.

BitViper

Ive got a F900BT and it has an AUX AV input that I can use

briann510

OMG how did I ever park a car for the last 35 years with no cameras?

heavymetals

How many times have you dragged the radiator support brackets across a parking stop?

BonestockZ06

It's a great idea and solution to that problem. I'm guilty of smashing into parking stops a million times.. Looks Good..

heavymetals

Thanks.

I am just modding the crap out of the car and trying to use most of the functions that the AVIC offers, plus add a few myself.

I guess I could have done the front cheaper by using these instead:

http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=924433

LOL

wiz1500

That link is great!!!!

jpandes

Sorry to hijack the thread, but this is somewhat related and you guys might be interested...

I was thinking on using one of the AV IN's for a "Passing Cam" for passing on right (highway lane). I would mount a cam facing front on the upper right corner of the windshield so that I could see if there was a big enough gap between the slow poke clogging the fast lane in front of me(this is the norm in California). I tried using the Kenwood cam but it is a wide angle lens when I need a telephoto or zoom lens.

Any thoughts on this idea?

heavymetals

Sounds like an application, but I think the real challenge is mounting the camera in a "tasteful" manner that doesn't look to out of place in the windshield area.

Your right though, it isn't much fun to go to pass only to find out there is something you didn't/couldn't see in the way.

heavymetals

Here are pics of what the front camera sees and from where.

(screen looks better then it photographs)

I tried to make it "worst case", that is shadow on the curb and brightness on the other part.

As you can tell, the angle is pretty good.

System works but I have to either defeat the "E" brake or build the video switch as the unit kicks out of AV1 monitoring when the "E" brake is off.

I might swap the cameras around as the system (the way it is) has no problem leaving the rear camera on while driving (I guess they treat it as an electronic rear view mirror).

I want to see the parking stops and curbs more then I care about seeing what's behind.